When introducing a speaker for a talk, the one who makes the introduction sometimes takes the center stage which is a definite no-no. Here are four awesome tips you can use to make sure you do the job right.

Keep it short. 30 seconds is enough for informal gatherings. If you are introducing the main speaker for a big event, then one minute of introduction would suffice. If the event is a formal one and the speaker you are introducing is very important, then two minutes of introduction would be more than enough.

Do your research. Being the one to introduce the speaker to the audience, you have to do your research in advance. Contact the speaker to find out what his/her speech will be about and why it is important to the audience. Try asking also about the speaker’s experience, achievements and interests to help you establish the speaker’s credibility.

Prepare a three-part outline. Convey to the audience the reason why this particular speaker will be discussing about the subject. Describe the subject or the problem that the audience share. Briefly tell them how this talk will solve their concerns then end by stating the speaker’s credentials to establish credibility and authority.

Conclude with the speaker’s name to signal the speaker to come forward. Wait until the speaker arrives at the podium, step back and hand the podium over to the speaker.

By doing these things, you would have done your job well in introducing the speaker for your event.

In life, as we continue with our ways, year after year after year, we usually fall into the trappings of monotony. We eventually let our habits and routines control us until our days become as boring as the next. This can also happen in our presentations and it’s something that presenters should avoid and try not to do.

Below are five ways you can do to make sure that you don’t fall into this habit of having boring presentations.

1. Experience more: The more varied the experiences you have, the more resources you’ll have for amazing stories. So expose yourself to new adventures and try out new things. Read more books and meet new people. Doing so can have amazing impact on your next presentation.

2. Embrace friction: Commit yourself to reading or listening at least one news source that contains views and opinions opposite yours. This will help banish your preconceived notions and expectations and make you see the other side of the coin much clearly.

3. Honor thy bucket list: Have a list of new things to do and stick to them. People who strive to have more adventures in life tend to have more energy. Consequently, this vibrancy and zest for life will transfer to their audience when they speak.

4. Appeal to authority: Having believable testimonials offer credibility and authority. It makes your stories more engaging and gives merit to your stories.

5. Be funny: You achieve this by giving war stories. These are stories of things and experiences gone wrong that audience can relate to. It’s a great rhetorical device that makes people laugh thereby making presentations more lively and interesting.

REA is short for RECORD, EVALUATE, APPLY. These are three tips you can use to to enhance your speech. Do these in the said order and your next speech will surely be awesome.

Record

Record your speech rehearsal using a video recorder. During playback, you will have a idea about how you will look like on stage and what particular mannerisms and quirks you usually exhibit.

Evaluate

By watching your video, you not only have an idea of what you look like on stage, but you will also have a perspective of how your audience will see you. Look into the areas that you don’t like and improve on them. If you find everything fine, then great! Just keep it up.

Apply

Whatever it is that you want to improve or change when you give your speech, act on it. If it’s less hand movement or better eye contact that you wish, practice it and record yourself again. See how better you have improved since your last speech recording.